October 15, 2017 8:45am EDTOctober 15, 2017 8:40am EDTOur picks and predictions for Week 6 of the NFL season feature a battle of NFC powers in Carolina on Thursday night, as well as Green Bay taking a commanding lead in the NFC North.Aaron Rodgers(Getty Images)

The "Thursday Night Football" paradox rears its head again in Week 6, for the second straight week.

There are not a ton of compelling matchups this week — and that's not good considering it’s just the second weekend of October — but the Eagles visiting the Panthers was one of them. Problem is, of course, it was Thursday.

Yet Thursday was still the best of the primetime meetings this week. The late-afternoon window is worthwhile, particularly Pittsburgh going to unbeaten Kansas City. Thankfully, neither is on a short week.

Week 6 NFL picks, predictions

(All times Eastern)

Miami Dolphins (2-2) at Atlanta Falcons (3-1)

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

Jay Cutler escaped the bulk of the permanent wrath of Miami fans last week with that game-winning drive to beat an equally-inept Titans team led by Matt Cassel. The Dolphins now find out whether Chris Foerster, who put the “offensive” in offensive line coach, was integral enough to that unit to cause a drop-off with his absence. That they face the Falcons, coming off a bye and a bitter loss to the Bills, should make it all moot.

Prediction: Falcons, 33-10

New England Patriots (3-2) at New York Jets (3-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

Normally this would be the point that the Jets are sent plunging back to earth by their tormentors. The Patriots, however, are certifiably dreadful on defense right now (last in the NFL by a scandalous 50 yards a game). Josh McCown has done well against similarly bad defenses (the Browns, for example). Doing that and outselling Tom Brady, though, are separate challenges.

Prediction: Patriots, 31-29

Detroit Lions (3-2) at New Orleans Saints (2-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox

Claiming that the Lions' offense can get healthy against the Saints' defense is really just a saying in this case. Matthew Stafford is apparently actually injured. The Lions defense showed vulnerability against the Panthers, and while Drew Brees and this offense presents different challenges, the Lions unit has a lot to prove. The Lions also run the risk of letting the Packers run away from them in the NFC North.

Prediction: Saints, 34-28

Green Bay Packers (4-1) at Minnesota Vikings (3-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox

The Vikings can’t get right at quarterback, but to be fair, that’s part of the package when you trade for Sam Bradford. (It feels like Teddy Bridgewater played for them barely more recently than Fran Tarkenton did.) This is not the unit right now that can get into a legit shootout with Aaron Rodgers and make him pull out the dramatics the way he did against the Cowboys. Too bad, because there’s no reason to trust the Packers defense so far.

Prediction: Packers, 34-21

Chicago Bears (1-4) at Baltimore Ravens (3-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

The Ravens shouldn't consider themselves out of the woods yet, even after whipping the Raiders in Oakland, or even with the Bears coming to town. The big Mitchell Trubisky change only spotlighted how few offensive threats the Bears have. They don’t have anyone the Ravens can’t handle — which only means that the wildly inconsistent, vulnerable-in-spots Ravens had better eat while the eating's good.

Prediction: Ravens, 23-13

San Francisco 49ers (0-5) at Washington Redskins (2-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox

Kyle Shanahan returns to where he and his father once dueled Robert Griffin III (exactly what a team wants, of course). Their last four losses have been by a total of 11 points, including last week’s overtime defeat in Indianapolis. This is likely their fate this season: not close enough because their talent isn’t anywhere close enough. Washington has coughed up two winnable games, to the Eagles and Chiefs, which isn’t as encouraging as it sounds.

Prediction: Washington, 27-21

Cleveland Browns (0-5) at Houston Texans (2-3)

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

There was no reason to believe that all of the Texans’ hopes would have to ride on a rookie quarterback’s back thanks to all that defense they brought back. But they were failing on that side even before they lost J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus last week. Somehow, it ended up being Deshaun Watson or nothing. They should get away with it against the awful Browns, but not against too many others.

Prediction: Texans, 29-10

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2) at Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m., Fox

The Buccaneers' offense, with all its pieces back, still looks like a work in progress. The Bucs will be very dangerous if they all get it together, but it’s anyone’s guess when that will be. This week is a good chance — it’s still mildly stunning how completely the Eagles picked the Cardinals apart last week. That’s not on the missing David Johnson or the hit-and-miss Carson Palmer. To be fair, though, if newly-arrived Adrian Peterson does a reasonable impression of his former self, the Cardinals' defense will benefit as much as the offense.

Prediction: Buccaneers, 30-17

Los Angeles Rams (3-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m., Fox

The Jaguars' defense has embarrassed a shocking number of quarterbacks so far this season, and they are capable of adding Jared Goff to that list. Then again, Goff is capable of coming within a dropped pass in the end zone of beating a defensive juggernaut like Seattle. If his defense can keep Leonard Fournette in check — a big “if” — the Rams can bounce back after last week.

Prediction: Rams, 26-16

Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS

Quite the last week-plus for Ben Roethlisberger, from lecturing Antonio Brown about composure and maturity after a blowout win to self-flagellation after his embarrassing performance in a blowout loss. Some emotional equilibrium from the franchise player might come in handy, especially against an unbeaten team on a roll in every segment of the game.

Prediction: Chiefs, 28-24

Los Angeles Chargers (1-4) at Oakland Raiders (2-3)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS

Does Derek Carr returning with broken bones in his back jump-start a stumbling Raiders team? Yes ... if he can play defense, too, and play better than he did in the two games before he got hurt. The Raiders are on a three-game skid on merit — every weakness has been exposed, and they’re on the clock to patch it all up, fast. The Chargers didn't necessarily convince anyone they're turning it around after barely edging the Giants, though.

Prediction: Raiders, 24-17

New York Giants (0-5) at Denver Broncos (3-1)

Sunday, 8:30 p.m., NBC

Just what the losing, beaten-up Giants need: a fresh Broncos defense coming off a bye. This matchup looked good on paper when they drew up the schedule. Not any more. The Giants are running out of wide receivers. The Broncos are going to pin their ears back against Eli Manning. Ouch, ouch, ouch.

Prediction: Broncos, 31-6

Indianapolis Colts (2-3) at Tennessee Titans (2-3)

Monday, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

This also looked intriguing months ago — Andrew Luck vs. Marcus Mariota. Unless Mariota’s hamstring gets better very fast, it’ll be Jacoby Brissett vs. Matt Cassel, instead. The Colts are still closer to being the team that got blown out by the Seahawks in their last primetime appearance than the team that beat the 49ers last week (after blowing a fourth-quarter lead). Cassel, meanwhile … is Cassel. Don’t feel guilty about nodding off early.

Prediction: Colts, 18-13

Philadelphia Eagles (4-1) at Carolina Panthers (4-1)

Thursday, 8:30 p.m., NBC

They're two of just six teams left with one or fewer losses. Both quarterbacks are off to great starts (Carson Wentz, Cam Newton) and coming off of spectacular games. The Eagles’ third-ranked offense by yards faces the Panthers’ third-ranked defense by yards. Unfortunately, Eagles tackle Lane Johnson was in concussion protocol as of Monday, and they have yet to figure out how to handle his absence.